In the video, Luke Reacts explains that Starfield was absent from the Xbox Showcase due to Bethesda seemingly deprioritizing the game, possibly planning a quiet release of a complete edition on PS5 and moving on to future projects like The Elder Scrolls 6. He highlights the poor reception of the Shattered Space expansion, declining player engagement, and internal changes at Bethesda as signs that Starfield’s support is winding down.
In the video, Luke Reacts discusses the absence of Starfield at the Xbox Showcase, expressing that the game seems to have been deprioritized or effectively abandoned by Bethesda. He notes that there has been little communication or updates from Bethesda since the release of the Shattered Space expansion, which received a negative reception and short gameplay content. Many fans and observers are questioning why Starfield wasn’t featured, leading Luke to speculate that Bethesda might be saving any future DLC or updates for a later announcement, possibly coinciding with a PlayStation 5 release.
Luke reviews the disappointing reception of the Shattered Space expansion, highlighting its brevity and lack of meaningful new content. He points out that the expansion only added minor features like anti-gravity bubbles and a rover with no significant gameplay or quest integration. The critical and user reviews reflect this dissatisfaction, with Starfield’s expansion scoring poorly on Metacritic. He suggests that poor sales, negative feedback, and declining player engagement have likely influenced Bethesda’s reduced focus on further development for Starfield.
The streamer explores the possibility that Bethesda might be planning to release a complete edition of Starfield on PS5, including both expansions at full price, possibly with a quiet release and minimal marketing. He speculates that this could happen as a way to recoup some value from the game without investing heavily in marketing or additional content, especially since player interest has waned. Luke also notes that Bethesda’s silence and lack of communication about future plans for Starfield seem odd and indicates a broader disconnect with the community’s expectations.
Luke reflects on how internal changes at Bethesda, such as the retirement of Pete Hines, might have impacted the company’s approach to game support and updates. He suggests that Hines’ philosophy of continually improving and fixing games post-launch may have influenced Bethesda’s efforts with Starfield. After his departure, Bethesda appeared to shift away from this approach, shutting down or scaling back projects like Redfall, which may hint that Starfield’s ongoing support has also been curtailed. This context supports his view that Bethesda is likely moving on from Starfield and focusing on future projects like The Elder Scrolls 6.
In conclusion, Luke believes that Starfield’s story is nearing its end, with no plans for a third expansion or substantial ongoing support. He doubts Bethesda will officially announce the game’s discontinuation but expects that the game will quietly fade away, with a possible PS5 version and minimal content releases. Ultimately, he sees the game as a missed opportunity that failed to connect with players, and he expresses disappointment that Bethesda didn’t listen to community feedback or invest more in refining the game. He invites viewers to share their thoughts, emphasizing that the game’s absence at the showcase feels strange and somewhat indicative of its declining relevance.